On Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their strong start to the 2025 MLB season, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies on the road by a score of 3-1. This victory, which followed a loss the previous night, saw former international standout Roki Sasaki make his third career start, delivering his most impressive performance to date.
During the outing, Sasaki held the Phillies to just one run on three hits, striking out four batters before his departure in the fifth inning.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki “Settled In Nicely” In Third Start
Following the game, manager Dave Roberts commented that Sasaki “settled in nicely,” as reported by SportsNet LA on X. Meanwhile, catcher Austin Barnes offered insight into Sasaki’s mindset heading into the game, stating, “Before we went out there, he told me, ‘Let’s go.’ I liked that. It was good to see, just going out there and competing,” according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
Sasaki himself was candid about the confidence struggles he experienced after his first two less-than-stellar starts with the Dodgers.
“I did go through the week feeling a little anxious,” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I was searching for something that I could feel confident about, whether that was skill-based. So what I learned this time is that it’s really important to have confidence based on some adjustment, some skill.”
Dodgers fans were undoubtedly pleased with what they witnessed from the young star on Saturday, as he helped the team improve their record to an impressive 9-1, building upon their 2024 World Series championship.
The Dodgers find themselves in the enviable position of being reigning champions who have seemingly improved further in the subsequent offseason, a fact clearly reflected in their early-season results. After concluding their series against the Phillies on Sunday, Los Angeles is scheduled to face the Washington Nationals on Monday evening.